Author: Casper Benedict

CES 2023 displays a variety of the latest technological developments, one of which is the Dolby Atmos feature in the Volvo EX90 cabin. Like listening to a music concert in the cabin, the sound system is truly extraordinary. Overview of the Dolby Atmos feature, is the name of a surround sound technology owned by Dolby Laboratories. Atmos was introduced on June 8, 2012 at the launch of the film Brave. After the launch of Atmos technology for cinemas, several types of Atmos technology for retail users were also launched. Dolby Atmos is already known as a sound technology that uses…

The French government has reduced subsidies for electric cars in 2023. The eco-bonus, which had been previously delayed for a year, went into effect on January 1st. Electric cars will now receive a maximum subsidy of 5,000 euros from the state, compared to the previous 6,000 euros. The decision to reduce subsidies was part of a restructuring plan for the automotive industry, due to a decrease in sales caused by the COVID-19 crisis. The environmental bonus now only applies to battery-electric and fuel cell cars with a price less than 47,000 euros and a weight less than 2.4 tonnes, covering…

Tevex Logistics, a subsidiary of the German butcher Tönnies Group, plans to use the battery-electric eActros LongHaul truck for food deliveries in the future. To this end, the company has signed a letter of intent with Mercedes-Benz Trucks to order 50 units of the vehicle. The letter of intent was signed during an official visit to Daimler Truck headquarters. No further details on the planned use of the vehicles were provided in the announcement. The Tönnies Group, known for its meat products, will use the vehicles in particularly demanding, temperature-controlled food transport. The company is committed to becoming one of…

Malta is seeking to acquire 250 new electric vehicles for its government fleets through a 10 million euro tender funded by EU funds. The goal of the project is to increase the percentage of electric vehicles in public service from 7% in 2021 to 40%. The tender is divided into four lots for the procurement of 194 five-passenger cars, 30 eight-passenger vehicles, 16 small commercial vehicles, and 10 large commercial vehicles, all of which must be no older than 2022. The deadline for the tender is 7 February. Through this project, the government aims not only to replace its internal…

Volkswagen is recalling a small number of its new ID.4 electric crossovers due to an electrical issue with the 12V battery, which is not related to the electric powertrain. The recall affects rear-wheel-drive models of the ID.4 produced for the 2022-2023 model years, as the charging cable for the 12V battery may rub against the steering column and potentially cause a short-circuit if the insulation becomes worn. This issue could potentially result in a fire risk if left unaddressed. All-wheel drive models are not affected by this recall. “On affected vehicles (rear-wheel drive only), the 12V battery charging cable may…

The Estrema Fulminea, boasting a impressive 2,012 horsepower, is set to make an attempt at breaking the electric vehicle record at the Nurburgring track this fall. The production version of the vehicle is scheduled to be revealed in June, with plans to tackle the Nordschleife circuit in September. It has been some time since there have been updates from Automobili Estrema, but it appears that they have been busy preparing for this highly anticipated record attempt. Automobili Estrema plans to bring the Estrema Fulminea to the Nurburgring track in September to attempt to set a new electric sports car lap…

Due to the high cost and limited availability of lithium, researchers are seeking alternative materials for use in efficient energy storage systems. One potential candidate is sodium, which has shown promise as an alternative to lithium in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, one challenge in using sodium in SIBs is the large size and slow movement of sodium ions, which can negatively impact the performance of the SIB anode. In order to address this issue, researchers from Korea and the United States have developed pyrolyzed quinacridones, a new type of carbonaceous material for use in SIB anodes. These materials are easy…

At CES, Sony Honda Mobility unveiled Afeela brand with a prototype sedan that gives a preview of a production model set to be released in North America in 2026. While the release date is still a few years away, the brand is already planning for its future lineup. In an interview with Autocar, Sony Honda Mobility CEO Yasuhide Mizuno stated, “We’re already considering our second and third models. We want to have a diverse lineup, not just a single offering.” The company is reportedly considering a range of options for its future lineup, including a crossover, another sedan, and possibly…

Tesla had a highly successful year in 2022, with the Model Y ranking among the top ten best-selling vehicles in the United States. The electric crossover sold 252,000 units in 2022, placing it at sixth on the list. According to Motor Intelligence, the Model Y saw a 32.4% increase in sales from the previous year. It outperformed popular models such as the GMC Sierra, Toyota Tacoma, Honda CR-V, and Jeep Grand Cherokee. Michelle Krebs of Cox Automotive fully expected the Model Y to perform well. She said, “It’s no surprise that Tesla ranks that high. The brand, despite all the…

It has been over a year since Rivian began delivering its all-electric R1T pickup truck to customers at the end of 2021. Overall, the company has received positive feedback for the vehicle, with MotorTrend naming it “the most remarkable pickup truck” and several owners expressing satisfaction with their electric truck. In a recent owner review, YouTuber TEDActuallyTalks shared his thoughts on the R1T after one year of ownership and approximately 13,500 miles driven, highlighting both the positives and negatives of the vehicle. The YouTuber highlighted the benefits of the software updates that have been applied to the R1T over time,…

Volkswagen of America has released its 4th quarter and full-year 2022 sales numbers, revealing that 6.8% of its sales in the USA were electric vehicles (all ID.4 sales, as it is the only electric vehicle Volkswagen sells in the country). In the 4th quarter, the Volkswagen ID.4 had a market share of 18.2%, with 4,055 sales, making it the second best selling model in the USA. Only the Tiguan had more sales, at 7,740 in the quarter. The Volkswagen ID.4 had impressive year-over-year growth in the 4th quarter, with a 171.4% increase in sales. This growth was slightly higher than…

According to a report by the U.S. Department of Energy, based on research from the Argonne National Laboratory, Georgia, Kentucky, and Michigan are expected to dominate the electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing industry in the United States by 2030. Each state is projected to have a capacity of 97-136 gigawatt hours per year for EV battery production. Additionally, Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee are expected to be significant players in the industry, with a planned capacity of 46-97 gigawatt hours per year by 2030. The planned expansion of EV battery manufacturing capacity in North America is expected to increase…